Lawyers Give Differing Views of Fatal 2009 Stabbing of Gene Hockey

Lawyers gave different explanations Tuesday for why Nicky Tolzmann Jr. fatally stabbed his girlfriend's father in July 2009.

By JASON GEARYTHE LEDGER

BARTOW | Lawyers gave different explanations Tuesday for why Nicky Tolzmann Jr. fatally stabbed his girlfriend's father in July 2009.

Tolzmann is accused of first-degree murder in the death of Gene Hockey, 58, of Lakeland. If convicted as charged, he faces life in prison.

During Tuesday's opening statements, Assistant State Attorney Robert Antonello said Tolzmann, 29, was living at Hockey's home on Suzanna Lane along with Hockey's daughter, Leah, and Hockey's 5-year-old granddaughter.

Tolzmann was enraged that Leah Hockey wasn't wearing her engagement ring and didn't want to have sex on the early morning hours of July 10, 2009, Antonello said.

Tolzmann assaulted Leah Hockey inside an upstairs bedroom, and was armed with a large military-style knife, said Antonello.

Leah Hockey began screaming for help, and her father was knocking on the door in an attempt to intervene, he said.

The prosecutor described Gene Hockey as a physically weak man who suffered from pulmonary emphysema and could only walk a short distance before becoming short of breath.

Antonello said Hockey wasn't able to defend himself against a "strong, armed, angry, young man."

Gene Hockey was attacked in a narrow hallway and stabbed at least eight times, including in the heart, face, arm and chest, Antonello said.

Tolzmann planted a rifle on Gene Hockey's body and stole guns from his closet, said Antonello.